Tense agreement between the conditional and subjunctive
When the main clause contains a verb of desire in the conditional (present or past) and the part of the sentence that follows the che (that) contains an action that's already taken place, we use the past perfect subjunctive using the following structure: verb of desire in the conditional + che + past perfect subjunctive.
Mi piacerebbe piacere, condizionale presente che tu avessi terminato terminare, congiuntivo trapassato gli studi.
I would like for you to have finished your studies.
Avrei voluto volere, condizionale passato che lui ti avesse detto dire, congiuntivo trapassato la verità.
I would have liked him to have told you the truth.
When the main clause contains a verb of desire in the conditional (present or past) and the part of the sentence that follows the che (that) contains an action that is yet to take place, we use the imperfect subjunctive using the following structure: verb of desire in the conditional + che + imperfect subjunctive.
Io preferirei preferire, condizionale presente (ora, alle 18) che Anna arrivasse arrivare, congiuntivo imperfetto (più tardi).
I would prefer (now, at 6pm) for Anna to arrive (later).
Io avrei preferito preferire, condizionale passato (ieri), che Anna arrivasse arrivare, congiuntivo imperfetto (domani).
I would have preferred (yesterday) for Anna to arrive (tomorrow).
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